April 22, 2020 - A sweet lady did "porch family photos" and posted them along with a write-up to the Morgan Mom's facebook page. Fun to get to know some new families virtually. Here is ours.
It has been amazing (and humbling) to see how fast the world shut down during this pandemic. Our emotions have been all over the place ... gratitude for good health, shock at how fast things closed, worry for my pediatrician husband, loneliness for friends and teachers, relief that some things got cancelled, and happiness to have more game time together and to spend more time in pj's. I've loved having the kids around (most of the time 😉🥴) but we were so sad with Tuesdays announcement that schools would be closed til the end of the year. My kids have excellent teachers and they will miss out on their awesomeness. I was sad for the fun end-of-year things that won't happen: Great American program, 1st grade readers theater, preschool fun, awards ceremonies, 3rd grade talent show, Harry Potter party, field trips, orchestra, dance, and ice skating recitals, flag football, track & baseball. Just missing all that "May craziness" that I've complained about in the past. These are such small things and I know it's so much worse for others, but Tuesday I really felt that loss. And I felt such sadness for the Seniors I love. But we have to let ourselves feel the emotion...and then...chin up and move on, making the best of things.
Some of our favorite activities have been: read-a-thon day, science day studying pandemics, lots of puzzles, murder mystery dress-up dinner, whip cream challenge, recreating Legoland in our basement with all our Lego creations and eating apple fries, double screen time day, LOTS and LOTS of recipe experiments, Swiss Family Robinson picnic, spa day, dance-offs, nature walks, home church, organization & remodel projects, etc. It has definitely been a memorable time and I'm grateful to be spending it with my cute little family! ♥️
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And now my own questionnaires: :)
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| Murder Mystery dinner! |
Lucy
What has been the biggest change? online school
What emotions did you feel during this time? very bored, sick of piano
What are your top 3 moments from quarantine?
1. talking to Clara
2. Getting up early and smelling the rain
3. Erik singing while doing homework
If you could spend quarantine anywhere in the world, where would you choose?universal studios
What are your favorite things you've eaten during this time? happiness cookies with milk
What is your favorite movie that we watched? spider-man and Pirates of the Caribbean
What did you like about homeschooling? I can get it done in an hour
What did you NOT like about homeschooling? I can't complain about how boring it is to my friends
If you could do back to school on Monday, would you like to? Give my friends big hugs
What are the things you've missed the most? my friends, extended family get togethers,
seeing people
What was your favorite Come Follow Me lesson? Or church memory? Erik's "Jesus cleansing the temple" lesson
What activities/hobbies have you enjoyed the most during this time? ping pong and tennis
What will you miss when quarantine is over? sleeping in
What was your favorite thing we did to connect with others (even though we couldn't hang out with them)? family zoom meetings
Any goals after this? no
What have you learned from this experience? how to not say anything when I am very annoyed (I've kinda learned this not quite)
What are you most thankful for? my family
Things you hope never to forget about this time? Clara's laugh
Elise
What has been the biggest change? everything being closed
What emotions did you feel during this time? sad, cooped up
What are your top 3 moments from quarantine?
1. going and talking to my teachers at the end of school year
2. big church meeting with the Cole family on Mother's Day
3. dying my hair blue
4. Going to Zion National Park at the end
If you could spend quarantine anywhere in the world, where would you choose? Texas or Hawaii (unless all the beaches were closed). Or Germany with Lacey
What are your favorite things you've eaten during this time? dutch babies, crepes, pancakes, waffles
What is your favorite movie that we watched? Spy Next Door, Descendants Movies, some Harry Potter movies, old Disney movies - Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast,
What did you like about homeschooling? nothing! It was terrible! Doing work online was hard because my teachers weren't there to explain it to me. There were some fun stuff though...like making a comic strip and a taco truck.
What did you NOT like about homeschooling? missing my friends, missing my teachers, missing my teachers help - if I didn't understand, I missed that they were there for me
If you could do back to school on Monday, would you like to? yes and no. I'd get to see all my friends. But if I had to go back, I'd have to do assignments and end-of-year testing.
What are the things you've missed the most? sewing classes, friends, ice staking, being able to go out and do stuff
What was your favorite Come Follow Me lesson? the ones when we have videos - like our testimonies being like a plant growing.
Or church memory? when Erik started doing exercises in the middle of sacrament meeting
What activities/hobbies have you enjoyed the most during this time? drawing, reading - I got a lot of that in
What will you miss when quarantine is over? nothing! Except for being able to relax around the house. You can take a long shower or do a spa or read or eat candy
What was your favorite thing we did to connect with others (even though we couldn't hang out with them)? zoom with my teachers and friends
Any goals after this? hang out with a friend every day
What have you learned from this experience? Life without friends is boring. Some books are interesting and some are boring.
What are you most thankful for? friends and family and books
Things you hope never to forget about this time? Life is very very very very boring without people to talk to. I liked our family read-a-thon and the indoor picnic. With a big family, it seems like the house is tiny and its hard not to go crazy. But you never get bored because everyone is always there doing something. After a long time without your friends or cousins, it can be a good thing because you are so happy when you see them again!
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| Austin led the egg drop competition! |
Austin
What has been the biggest change? I can sleep in now!
What emotions did you feel during this time? stuck, happy, excited
What are your top 3 moments from quarantine?
1. Easter egg hunt for baskets
2. Screen time almost every day
3. Read-a-thon day
If you could spend quarantine anywhere in the world, where would you choose? on a cruise ship! It would go anywhere I told to go...Atlantis Waterslide place, a underwater hotel near California, Universal Studios in CA
What are your favorite things you've eaten during this time? Restaurant run - spring rolls and noodles from Panda Express
What is your favorite movie that we watched? Narnia
What did you like about homeschooling? I get to pick when it starts
What did you NOT like about homeschooling? too many zooms!
If you could do back to school on Monday, would you like to? yes. I'd get to see all my friends and teachers in person!
What are the things you've missed the most? Can't really think of anything I've missed. Maybe going to activity places like Non-Stop and Boondocks
What was your favorite Come Follow Me lesson? Or church memory?
What activities/hobbies have you enjoyed the most during this time? long board games, computer games, legos, deacons quorum neighborhood scavenger hunt
What will you miss when quarantine is over? Less time for board games
What was your favorite thing we did to connect with others (even though we couldn't hang out with them)? facetime with Grandma Liz & Grandpa Tom was really good
Any goals after this?
What have you learned from this experience? sometimes staying at home can be good. We don't have to go places every day.
What are you most thankful for? my family
Things you hope never to forget about this time? how much I played with my siblings!
Cole
What has been the biggest change? not playing with friends
What emotions did you feel during this time? sad and annoyed
What are your top 3 moments from quarantine?
1. taking down the stick barrier between lawns
2. spending more time playing board games with my family
3. talking with my friends on zoom
If you could spend quarantine anywhere in the world, where would you choose? Disneyland because no one is there
What are your favorite things you've eaten during this time? pizza
What is your favorite movie that we watched? Cars 2
What did you like about homeschooling? nothing. It is terrible.
What did you NOT like about homeschooling? missed my teacher, everything else
If you could do back to school on Monday, would you like to? yep, definitely!
What are the things you've missed the most? my teacher
What was your favorite Come Follow Me lesson? Or church memory? When we played a ton of games against dad but we had an advantage to start
What activities/hobbies have you enjoyed the most during this time? computer games, chess
What will you miss when quarantine is over? my mom
What was your favorite thing we did to connect with others (even though we couldn't hang out with them)? hopscotch on the sidewalk
Any goals after this? survive it!
What have you learned from this experience? sometimes life can be tough
What are you most thankful for? that I get to be with my mom all day long
Things you hope never to forget about this time? can't always get what you want. Like you can't stop corona virus even if you want to
Erik
What has been the biggest change? No playing with friends
What emotions did you feel during this time? sad, mad, and kind of excited
What are your top 3 moments from quarantine?
1. art day
2. screen zombie day
3. skipping rocks at Antelope Island
If you could spend quarantine anywhere in the world, where would you choose? Legoland
What are your favorite things you've eaten during this time? giant cinnamon roll, whip cream challenge,
What is your favorite movie that we watched? Incredibles, Swiss Family Robinson
What did you like about homeschooling? I hate homeschooling.
What did you NOT like about homeschooling? I just want to see my teacher
If you could do back to school on Monday, would you like to? No. I'd stay home
What are the things you've missed the most? pickles, grandma
What was your favorite Come Follow Me lesson? Or church? Pokemon Evolution Come Follow Me lesson
What activities/hobbies have you enjoyed the most during this time? pokemon games with my brothers
What will you miss when quarantine is over? nothing!
What was your favorite thing we did to connect with others (even though we couldn't hang out with them)? ZOOM!
Any goals after this? Clap my Cheeks
What have you learned from this experience? STAY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER
What are you most thankful for? TREES, POKEMON, !@#$%^&*() (Erik wanted to type :))
Things you hope never to forget about this time?dfhgghyytrfr, wresting dad, learning to skip rocks, coloring pictures of Pokemon
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Clara loved drawing a chalk obstacle
course for the neighborhood kids |
Clara
What has been the biggest change? all the kids are home in the day
What emotions did you feel during this time? happy
What are your top 3 moments from quarantine?
1. play games
2. watch shows
3. art - like the painting with acrylic
If you could spend quarantine anywhere in the world, where would you choose? Hawaii
What are your favorite things you've eaten during this time? cake
What is your favorite movie that we watched? Max & Ruby, Spies in Disguise (with daddy), Dude Perfect
What did you like about homeschooling? doing my unicorn writing book
What did you NOT like about homeschooling? I miss my preschool teachers and dance
If you could do back to school on Monday, would you like to? yes!
What are the things you've missed the most? my preschool, recess at preschool, my teachers, my friends, grandmas and grandpas
What was your favorite Come Follow Me lesson? Or church memory?
What activities/hobbies have you enjoyed the most during this time? play dollies, learned to cartwheel with Lucy, drawing sidewalk chalk obstacle course, coloring
What will you miss when quarantine is over? mommy and daddy, I miss my preschool friends
What was your favorite thing we did to connect with others (even though we couldn't hang out with them)? looking for shamrocks in windows on St Patricks day
Any goals after this? see my grandmas and grandpas
What have you learned from this experience? how to do math
What are you most thankful for? Jesus
Things you hope never to forget about this time? when grandpa Ed and grandma Cindy sat on the porch and watched me ride my barbie car. I like that the kids play games with me. art day. leprechaun day - Erik ate corn out of his leprechaun pot, me on top of circus pyramid, circus dinner, chair lift with our hands and someone would fly off,
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| Ms. Ilrebmik came to substitute - Erik loved this! |
Mom
What has been the biggest change? no alone time, no rushing kids to activities
What emotions did you feel during this time? mostly happiness to have everyone home. But some worry, exhaustion, frustration.
What are your top 3 moments from quarantine?
1. Date night take-out dinners with George - eating Taggarts food by Weber river, in the car, grass at the park, etc.
2. All that time talking while doing puzzles, lots and lots of games (Tossed Salad)
3. new activities driving in the car... Teacher parades, drive-thru dinner in the van, drive-by Easter Egg hunt
If you could spend quarantine anywhere in the world, where would you choose? I was pretty happy to be home. But wouldn't have minded being home in HI. :) If we could have enjoyed Disneyworld or Harry Potter land without all the people, that would have been awesome!
What are your favorite things you've eaten during this time? Soooooo many yummy things: rice krispie Disney pops, baked french toast sticks, new carne asada and guac recipes for Cinco de Mayo,
What is your favorite movie that we watched? Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Avengers - Endgame and Infinity War, Sleeping Beauty
What did you like about homeschooling? I liked the kids tell me what they were learning. Lucy is taking Biology and Algebra II through BYU and I liked answering her math questions. Elise usually had 2 options: IXL questions or a big project. She always chose the projects (design your own birdfeeder, taco truck, etc). That was both fun and exhausting. Teachers were really amazing with what they put together for the kids - Mrs. Jensen reading books online, Mrs. Youngberg doing polygon Simon Says, etc.
What did you NOT like about homeschooling? I felt like I had to constantly hound people to stay on task and finish. We'd take breaks, but they hated coming back to it. People needed my help with something continually. Lucy was a lifesaver with all the technology logging on to different programs, etc. Learning how to submit assignments that weren't blank on Google Classroom, kids telling me they were "done" but missed lots of stuff, daily fighting with Erik about writing 5 sentences.
If you could do back to school on Monday, would you like to? I would love for them to go back to school! I like having them around, but they are missing out on the fun end-of-year parts of school. :( And their teachers are awesome
What are the things you've missed the most?
1. monthly lunch with a few of my friends - we usually discuss a podcast and I love their insights
2. not seeing the kids doing their favorite things - Lucy playing tennis, Elise ice skating and not being able to finish her Lion King play, the boys missing out on school programs - Great American for Austin, Talent Show for Cole, and Readers Theater for Erik, Clara in dance
3. Vacations! I was sad when I realized I wouldn't be going to Germany over the summer. :( And we had a great vacation planned over Spring Break to Phoenix - mostly swimming and relaxing. We were going to go to a fancy Marriott resort (thanks to Greg) and Great Wolf Lodge. I think the kids would have loved it!
What was your favorite Come Follow Me lesson? Or church memory? I loved home church! Watching George and Austin bless/pass the sacrament each week was a great experience. Fast & testimony meeting first week of May was especially memorable. Erik shared how he was never going to fight ever ever again. George: really? Erik: Well, unless challenged. hahaha! Cole gave a tender testimony about being sorry he held Austin up from getting ready for church (locked him out of the closet). And Austin melted my heart when he talked about always being worried that he would starve if he fasted. But he followed the prophet with the worldwide fast (April 14) and knew that fasting blessed people. Oh my goodness! Everything worth it for that. He was so well spoken and sincere.
What activities/hobbies have you enjoyed the most during this time? I have a long list of projects to be done, but didn't feel like I did many of them. I did quite a bit of organizing, but was kinda spurty. I do enjoy putting together things for the kids - Legoland day, Murder Mystery Dinner, Art day, etc.
What will you miss when quarantine is over? Slowing down. I loved that no one had anywhere to be in the evenings.
What was your favorite thing we did to connect with others (even though we couldn't hang out with them)? Virtual games - got some really good laughs at Benji's answers especially
Any goals after this? My goal for the year has been more meaningful, thoughtful, regular prayer. Sometimes I did well with this during covid. I also had some good fasting experiences, which have been rare for me.
What have you learned from this experience? Good time to self-evaluate and family-evaluate. We knew this time would end, but good time to think about what activities we wanted back and which we were ok to take a break from.
What are you most thankful for? More time with the kids, George had enough work to get us through, plenty to eat, good health
Things you hope never to forget about this time? There was a worldwide "unity" that was very unique. Most countries were dealing with the same problem at about the same time. It was in varying degrees, but I thought about that often. I also wondered if this was a preparation time - spiritually, physically - for times ahead. It was amazing HOW FAST everything shut down. And shelf stable items disappeared off grocery shelves. I pondered how many changes within the church in the last couple years have prepared us for this - "home centered, church supported" learning, not waiting for a year before a temple sealing, change of women and children serving as witnesses so baptisms could still go forward with a small group of people, etc. My testimony of President Nelson as the Lord's living prophet has been strengthened and the importance of "getting things done now."
Dad
What has been the biggest change? Not running around crazy most evenings
What emotions did you feel during this time? Nervousness for my job.
What are your top 3 moments from quarantine?
1. Dinner at slapfish and watching youtube in the car with Kimi
2. Skipping rocks and chatting with my parents at antelope island
3. Letting the kids drive in the bird refuge
If you could spend quarantine anywhere in the world, where would you choose? Hawaii
What are your favorite things you've eaten during this time? Jalapeno burger at Taggarts
What is your favorite movie that we watched? Holes or Infinity War/Endgame
What did you like about homeschooling? Lucy doing BYU high school classes.
What did you NOT like about homeschooling? Pushing the kids to finish
If you could do back to school on Monday, would you like to? I have nightmares about being back in school.
What are the things you've missed the most?
1. Eating out.
2. Taking care of some of my patients who are afraid to come in.
3. Going to the gym.
What was your favorite Come Follow Me lesson? Paintings of the sacred grove.
Or church memory? Tree talk
What activities/hobbies have you enjoyed the most during this time? Playing tossed salad/hearts.
What will you miss when quarantine is over? Relax time.
What was your favorite thing we did to connect with others (even though we couldn't hang out with them)? Psyche games
Any goals after this? Get back in shape
What have you learned from this experience? Life can be changed pretty fast.
What are you most thankful for? Healthy kids.
Things you hope never to forget about this time? The chance to focus more on gospel study.
